Most people who were studying for a qualification were also working, according to results released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

More than half (60%) of Australians (aged 15-64) who were studying for a qualification in May this year were employed. For those studying for a Bachelor degree or higher, the proportion was even greater, with two-thirds employed, and 39% of these people employed full-time.

Out of the 2.3 million people studying for a qualification, close to three in 10 people (28%) were studying for a Bachelor degree. Just over one-quarter (26%) of these people were aged 15 to 19 years, and 48% were aged 20 to 24 years.

There were approximately 16% of students (364,500 people) who were enrolled in study leading to a qualification and who had not been enrolled in May 2004. The majority of these people were women (57%). Just under one-third (31%) were aged 25 to 34 years and 22% were aged 20 to 24 years.

More than half (51%) of all Australians aged 15-64 years have non-school qualifications (e.g. Bachelor degree, TAFE certificate), up from 41% in May 1995. The increase was mainly in people whose highest non-school qualification was a Bachelor degree or above (12% in 1995 to 20% in 2005).

The survey also showed that people with qualifications tended to have better employment outcomes. Of people with a non-school qualification, 82% were employed, compared to 63% of people who did not have a non-school qualification. Furthermore, employed people with a non-school qualification were more likely to work full time (77%), than those without (64%).Further details are available in Education and Work, Australia, May 2005 (cat. no. 6227.0).